Sewing plans for 2018

I've had quite a few posts popping up in my Instagram feed recently relating to the #2018makenine and #2018usenine challenges, and they've reminded me that I need to get on and finish writing this post!  So today I made some time to go through my fabric stash, think about what I'd like to sew and take photographs during daylight hours - always a challenge at this time of year.

This year I really want to focus on using fabrics in my stash which, for one reason or another, are still in my stash...

The reasons vary but can really be aggregated to

• I can't decide what style of dress to make (and it is mainly dress lengths that I dither over)
• I know what style but can't decide on a particular pattern
• It's such gorgeous fabric that I don't want to make the wrong decision (or a cutting out error - they have been known), and end up with no dress at all

Maybe if I put things in black and white here, with photos, there will be progress!

I'd also like to finish a few items which are at various stages of completion - a denim skirt from this pattern

which I cut out back in June and have done nothing with since.


An Emery / Cambie mash-up dress with these two fabrics which I bought in Dreyfuss in Paris several years ago.

I cut these out last summer and have got as far as sewing the darts and no further.

Then there is a Vogue long-sleeved shift dress which I started making in January 2014 and has therefore been languishing for four years...  I've marked the darts on this one, but I haven't got as far as sewing them.

Next, I would like to tackle buttonholes (I think I've probably said this before...).  So the photo below represents this - I may not use this pattern with this fabric, I've got a fair few vintage shirtdress patterns so might end up using a different one, but I really would like to cross making buttonholes off my to-do list!

I would also love to make some 1940s dresses.

The fabric in the picture above is a Liberty voile and so will have to be fully lined.  The fabric below is also Liberty, both of these were my mother's, and I'm not sure how old they are - 1980s or 1990s I guess.

What else?

I had a spell of binge-watching Jane Austen dvds last summer which ignited a desire to make a Regency-style dress.  I bought some navy dotted Swiss fabric at GBSB live to make up with one or other of these patterns - which remind me of a couple of Laura Ashley maxi dresses I had in the 70s which were really very similar in style.  Whatever happened to them I wonder? 

Next, a couple of skirts.  A pleated one with this gorgeous harlequin border print,

and a fitted one with this pink and red checked wool which I bought at Barry's in Birmingham on the 2015 Sewbrum day.

Two Coco sweatshirts with fabric from Guthrie & Ghani, again, from Sewbrum 2015.

A maxi dress with this fabric, not necessarily this pattern though (but definitely a maxi)

A fitted bodice pleated skirt dress from this gorgeous summery border print fabric which I bought last year

A dress for my granddaughter with this fabric, which is a leftover from this dress I made four years ago.  A friend of mine gave me the pattern - isn't it fab?

A dress with  this lovely vintage fabric which I bought from Hammersmith Vintage Fair a couple of years ago

A Sew Over It 1940s wrap dress - I've been waiting for this pattern to be released since I first saw a version of it on a mannequin in Sew Over It's Clapham shop a few years ago.

A Colette Rae

A Marilla Walker Isca shirt dress.  I'm not sure whether I've got enough of this lightweight chambray - I hope so!

A fitted 60s dress in this coral coloured stretch cotton - this reminds me of the dresses which Emma Stone wore in The Help.  I already had the original version of this pattern and then was tempted to buy the re-release in a sale, just to see what differences, if any, there are between the two patterns.

A navy and turquoise floral print voile 1940s style tea dress

And I am sure there will also be some fitted bodice / pleated or straight skirt combos too, because these fit right into my lifestyle and actually get worn.

I'd like to make up this fabric this spring...

I am also being increasingly drawn to the styles of the 1930s (take a look at Cate's blog - she's made some gorgeous garments) but I don't have any 30s dressmaking patterns in my stash.  I have got a few knitting patterns though so maybe my foray into 1930s clothing will have to be knitted not sewn.  Watch this space!